John Newton- May is a busy month

Wednesday

May 9, 2018 at 1:36 PMMay 9, 2018 at 1:39 PM

By John Newton- La Voz Llatina. jnewton2@savannahnow.com

Mark your calendars! There are several noteworthy events that deserve your attention this month. On Thursday, May 3rd at 11am, to stand in solidarity with all those opposing deportation and detention, The New Sanctuary Coalition will conduct a National Jericho Walk in downtown Savannah. Attendees will gather in front of the U.S. Customs Building at the corner of Bull and Bay across the street from City Hall. For more information, please contact Rev. Susan Karlson skarlson@uuma.org On Sunday evening, May 6th, Macon's Centenary United Methodist Church will join parishioners from St. Peter Claver Catholic Church as well as several other faith-based organizations in a special cross-town pilgrimage in solidarity with the plight of immigrant brothers and sisters. Organizers say it is not a political protest but a peaceful prayer walk. According to a Methodist friend: “The injunction to welcome the stranger is an important teaching within the great religions of the world. This walk, therefore, is a sign of our commitment to the sacred act of hospitality and to the work of justice as we seek to overcome exclusion, discrimination, violence, and dehumanization. It is not a political protest, but a peaceful prayer walk.” For more information, please call (478) 742-8926. The following week, military personnel from all over the United States will deploy to Savannah and set up free medical, dental, vision and veterinary services in four key locations for nine consecutive days, beginning May 10th and ending May 18th. The services will be offered each day on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8:00 am at: The Savannah Civic Center, 301 W. Oglethorpe Avenue; Armstrong Campus of Georgia Southern University at University Hall, 11935 Abercorn Street, Savannah; The Garden City Recreational Department, 160 Priscilla D. Thomas Road; and Savannah State University, Social Sciences Building, 3219 College Street. We reported this news last month but it bears repeating because these services are sorely lacking for a significant number of local residents, including immigrant families who live here in South Georgia and Coastal South Carolina. Unfortunately, many of our undocumented friends and neighbors may be reluctant to participate since they hail from countries where the police and military are virtually indistinguishable. Last month's ICE raids in Brunswick and other parts of the state have heightened their fears of indiscriminate arrest and detention and while I have been personally assured by a spokesman for “Operation Empower Health” that all residents, including the undocumented, are welcome to participate, today we live in a country where fear has been weaponized by members of the Trump administration– right-wing political operatives who will use any means necessary to feed and satisfy the demands of their anti-immigrant base. Early last month, Fox News’ “Fox and Friends” reported on an invasion, an “army of migrants marching to America.” Trump reacted by tweeting “These big flows of people are all trying to take advantage of DACA. They want in on the act!” As usual, this “news” show which Vox writer Carlos Maza calls “a toxic mix of internet conspiracy theories, right-wing propaganda, and general absurdity” had little connection to reality. In fact, the “army of migrants” they referenced was merely a repeat of the "Stations of the Cross" caravan, an annual event in Mexico designed to draw attention to the plight of Central American refugees. By the end of April the “army’s” number had shrunk from more than 1500 to less than 300 men, women and children whose plan was to present themselves to immigration authorities when they reached the U.S.border. And no, they could never take advantage of DACA under any circumstances since its provisions only apply to immigrants who have “continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007.” Speaking of DACA, here's some good advice from an immigration attorney friend: Even though a third federal judge ruled late last month that DACA applications must be accepted from everyone, that ruling does not go into effect for 90 days. Do not file New DACA applications now. But if you already have DACA status, you should be filing for a renewal of your DACA now, regardless of expiration date, to get an additional two years added to your status adjustment. Newton's third law states: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Fortunately, this dictum holds true in the political realm as well as in physics. The Brunswick ICE raid resulted in the arrest of 20 to 30 people whose spouses and American-born children suddenly found themselves in survival mode. But the ICE action also brought forth an outpouring of support from friends of the immigrant community including the Southern Poverty Law Center which sponsors the Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative. The SIFI is a group of pro bono attorneys and bilingual volunteer interpreters who offer free representation to immigrants being detained by ICE. On a lighter note- on Sunday, May 20th, our friends at La Isla Magazine bring their 5th Annual Fiesta de Mayo to Hilton Head Island's Shelter Cove Community Park from 12pm to 9pm. Along with a great variety of bands and folk dancers, this event also features Taco Libre- Battle of the Tacos- a competition to find the best tacos in the Lowcountry. Whenever I'm tempted to throw my hands up in despair and walk away from all things political, I remember that Donald Trump was elected in November 2016 by people fed up with the way our country was being run at that time. So despair is not the answer for those of us who find ourselves horrified by the clown show that started on the January 20, 2017, following Trump's inauguration. Georgia's primary election will be held Tuesday May 22nd. Fans of comprehensive immigration reform have two excellent choices in Georgia gubernatorial candidate, Stacey Abrams, and Lisa Ring, who has a good shot at replacing Buddy Carter as our 1st District Congressional Representative in November. So don't just complain! Get out and vote!